LINKS

Edward Stevenson 1886

Another Interview of David Whitmer

By Edward Stevenson, 1886

Source: Edward Stevenson to D. H. Wells, cit. Andrew Jenson,

Historical Record

6 (May 1887):211-12.

[The following interesting information is from the pen of Elder Edward Stevenson, a prominent missionary of pioneer days. The letter, dated February 16, 1886, and addressed to President Daniel H. Wells, may be found in the Historical Record 6 (May 1887):211-12:]

[page 211] After my visit to Independence I took a run down to Lexington Junction, 42 miles from Kansas City, and up the Lexington Railroad five miles to Richmond, Ray County, Missouri, and [page 212] called on David Whitmer, desiring to see once more the only surviving witness of the visitation of the angel who commanded him with others to bear record of the truth of the coming forth of the Book of Mormon and this gospel dispensation of the nineteenth century. Eight years ago I visited him, and 52 years ago I heard him bear his testimony, as also Oliver Cowdery and Martin Harris, when I was only a boy, 14 years of age, and I am a witness that each time their testimony has been by the power of God, that thrills through the whole system like a two-edged sword. David Whitmer is now just past 81 years of age and only by a hair's breadth has escaped from a deathbed. He is very feeble, his frame weighing less than one hundred pounds. In this, his last testimony, he said to me, "As sure as the sun shines and I live, just so sure did the angel appear unto me and Joseph Smith, [Jr.] and I heard his voice and did see the angel standing before us, and on a table were the plates, the sword of Laban, and the ball or compass." Although so weak and feeble, yet he fired up so that after a time I was necessarily obliged to check him and let him rest, while in turn I talked to him.